Victorian child care centres, KindiCare ratings revealed for 2024

The top rated and underperforming childcare centres across Victoria have been revealed. Search and see the list and watch our exclusive videos.

Victoria has the largest proportion of ‘outstanding’ childcare centres in the country, but also the highest number of unrated services.

The results from the KindiCare Quality Index, which rated 17,680 childcare services across Australia, are based on the results of official government inspections, as well as online reviews.

Out of 4838 childcare services in the state, 7.5 per cent – or 365 – were rated ‘outstanding’, but 13.7 per cent – 661 – could not be rated, mainly because they had not had an official inspection yet.

More than six in 10 received a ‘very good’, ‘excellent’ or ‘outstanding’ classification, while 3.9 per cent – or 187 – were rated ‘fair’.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk said centres with a rating of ‘fair’ typically provided early learning services that were well below the national average.

SEARCH THE FULL LIST HERE:

Southern Grampians Family Day Care service, which is not a childcare centre, but is made up of many contracted home-based Family Day Care service providers, was eighth lowest rated in Victoria.

“Our last ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority) rating was completed in 2018 and Council has worked with the department since to ensure all identified issues have been addressed,” Southern Grampians Shire Council CEO Tony Doyle said.

“We welcome news this week that the rating system is open again now and we will be pursuing a new assessment to take place as soon as is practicable.”

The Herald Sun contacted the bottom 10 ranked performers, but did not receive comment from the other nine.

Victoria had only one centre in the top 10 highest ranked and just five in the top 20.

Cuddly Bear Child Care and Kindergarten Heathmont, with a KindiCare Rating of 9.9, was the fourth highest rated service in the country and the best rated centre in the state.

Assistant Director Brooke Skurnik said the children take part in a weekly ‘loving our country’ ritual, which includes an Acknowledgement of Country, and caring for the garden and the centre’s three resident chickens, with kids taking it in turns to be on egg collection duty.

The eggs are shared with families.

There’s also fitness, music, language programs and nature play, as well as a children’s committee group.

Ms Skurnik said the centre was grateful to be recognised as the top performing centre in Victoria, and was very thankful “to the children who motivate us to achieve great things”.

Cuddly Bear Child Care and Kindergarten Heathmont Educator, Anthony Mendis and Indianna Bourke. Picture: Supplied

Mr Balk, who runs a childcare comparison app, said subscribers to his platform are treated equally with all other services in the KindiCare Quality Index and do not receive any boost as part of the rating process.

“The KindiCare Rating is based on publicly available information including previous and current assessment and ratings under the national quality framework from Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority as well as reviews provided by families on KindiCare direct as well as Google reviews,” Mr Balk said.

He added that the average inspection rate is every two years and 11 months. The KindiCare rating degrades over time after three years, rewarding those that have regular inspections.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk. Picture: Supplied

Services can request an inspection, although they may have to wait, especially in remote or rural areas.

He said the aim of the list is to help parents make an informed choice about child care and “to recognise the outstanding services across the country that go the extra mile every day to look after our youngest children”.

He said with the cost of living crisis and childcare fees costing some parents as much as their mortgage, choosing the right centre was more important to parents than ever.

HIGHEST RATED:

The Cuddly Bear Child Care and Kindergarten in Heathmont was rated the best in Victoria.

Cuddly Bear Child Care and Kindergarten Heathmont HEATHMONT EAST

Killeen Street Child Care Centre, SUNSHINE

Preshil - The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School, KEW

Guardian Childcare & Education Doncaster East, DONCASTER EAST

Melton Montessori Early Learning Centre, MELTON WEST

Essex Heights Juniors, MOUNT WAVERLEY

Maranatha Early Learning Centre - Cardinia, OFFICER

Bridge Road Early Learning Centre, RICHMOND

Goodstart Early Learning Clayton, CLAYTON

Mt Pleasant Kindergarten, NUNAWADING

LOWEST RATED

Maria Montessori Pre-School & Early Learning Centre, THOMASTOWN

Play House Family Day Care, PRESTON

Me2 Family Day Care, COBURG

Little Star Family Day Care Service, TRUGANINA

Warnambool City Council Family Day Care, WARRNAMBOOL

KINDICARE RATINGS EXPLAINED

Outstanding

Scored 9.5 and above, and in the top 3 per cent nationally.

Excel in environment, culture, educators and curriculum.

Excellent

Score 9-9.5. Very high quality education and care.

Consistent high feedback. Only 11.5 per cent of services achieve this category.

Very good

Score 8.5-9. Very good parent feedback. 97 per cent of services meet or exceed the national quality standard.

Good

Score 7.5-8.5. Typically meet national quality standards in all or most areas.

Fair

Score 5-7.5. Services often have limited or poor reviews from families. Sometimes a

new centre’s first review.

Poor

Score 5 and below. Limited or poor family reviews.

Not Rated

Operating less than three years and have yet to be formally assessed.

Source: KindiCare

Originally published as Victorian child care centres, KindiCare ratings revealed for 2024